Print this pageSatisfied
Elder T. L. Webb, Sr. (deceased) From the book, 'Little Things'
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy temple. -Psalms lxv. 4.
It is wonderful to think of the life of David in connection with salvation, in the experimental ups and downs of life and in the church of God. Although a child of God, one of the Lord's anointed and "a man after God's own heart," yet his life was not all joy - it was not all smooth sailing. No doubt in his heart he often sang the sentiment of the words, "Mixtures of joy and sorrow I daily do pass through." but his hope and trust was in God, not only in seasons of rejoicing, but in hours of adversity and sorrows. Sometimes I think the sweetest words he ever uttered are "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? hope thou in God." In every expression of his life regarding his deliverance from sin he gave all praise and honor to the Lord. On one occasion he said, "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God." -Psalm xl. 2,3. David was not telling what he did for the Lord, or what he did for himself, or what some of his religious neighbors did for him; he was not telling how through human instrumentality the gospel rope was let down in the pit, and that he, though dead, reached forth and caught hold of the rope and held on to it, taking step by step, and finally got out of the pit-but he was telling what the Lord did for him. This is still the theme of God's humble poor in the church of God today, and will be while time lasts, and then this grand song of redemption and praise will be sung on and on in eternity. It is said of the dear old church, "God is known in her palaces for a refuge." This cannot be said of any other institution in the world, religious or otherwise. Thank the Lord for a quiet resting place, even in this land of sorrow, where the good old doctrine of grace is still held sacred, and where undivided praise is rendered by the poor saints of God just as sincerely as in days of old.
"We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house." I cannot hope to investigate this subject as I desire to, for lack of space, unless I continue it in another issue. Oh, how much is embraced in itthe goodness in the dear Lord's house! There are so many good things in the dear old church. In fact, everything that God has placed in the church is good. It's origin, doctrine and practice are all good. I would like to tell why they are good to me and why I am satisfied with what God has blessed the church with, and why I am not willing to recognize any new measures. I am just as well satisfied with the goodness of God's house-her origin, doctrine and practice-as I was the fourth Sunday in July, 1896, when I was received into the fellowship of dear old HarmonyChurch.I don't have to mean by saying this that I am satisfied with the way all of us Old Baptists have conducted ourselves and treated each other. And I don't have to mean by saying that I am satisfied with the goodness of God's house that the Old Baptists are perfect and can't make mistakes, but I mean that, notwithstanding their mistakes, they can be defended as the church of Jesus Christ from any angle, and please let me say, frankly, that I do not appreciate any intimation that our people have reached a period where they cannot be defended. Such suggestions as that are much more embarrassing to me than it would be to try to defend our people on the vital issues as the church of our Saviour.
David did not claim to be satisfied about everything, but he was satisfied with the goodness of God's house. He was not altogether satisfied with himself and his own imperfections, but said that he would be in the home beyond. In humble petitions, he would say, "Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all our fathers were. O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more." He did not mean by this that he was not hoping for something beyond the grave. Listen to the final conclusion of it all: "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness." -Psalm xvii:15. Is not this our experience and hope today, as we look on and up, by an eye of faith, even though it be through a glass darkly and often through blinding tears, for the final change that awaits us all?